Mugabe, in office since 1980, was a key figure in the struggle for independence from colonial power Britain.

In 2008, his ruling ZANU-PF party lost the parliamentary majority and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai defeated Mugabe in the presidential vote. There was a run-off, and Tsvangirai withdrew because of alleged attacks on his supporters.

Under international pressure, Mugabe agreed to a power-sharing deal with Tsvangirai, who was made prime minister.

According to BBC, Mugabe believes in the "African liberationist tradition of the 1960s" - strong and ruthless leadership, anti-Western, suspicious of capitalism and deeply intolerant of dissent and opposition.